Fiesta fever is taking over Chester, as CH1ChesterBID and a range of city centre partners gear up to launch a packed programme of campaigns and events for summer in the city.

‘Chester Fiesta’, CH1ChesterBID’s campaign for summer 2016, includes a three-month programme of activities in the city centre throughout June, July and August. The city’s streets will be full of music, movies, outdoor theatre, parades and sporting events this summer…and even include a city centre-wide cocktail competition and a dinosaur-inspired family trail and fact-finding mission.

“Chester Fiesta brings all of the city’s spectacular summer activities together under one banner,” added Julie Charlton, Marketing Manager at CH1ChesterBID. “It’s going to be a fantastic summer in the city this year!”

Starting in July and running through to September as part of Chester Fiesta, CH1ChesterBID will launch ‘Head Out, Not Home’, a campaign aimed at bridging the gap between the city’s daytime and evening economies.

Every Thursday between 5pm and 8pm, CH1ChesterBID has organised a range of music and street entertainment as well as a series of fantastic shopping, drinking and dining offers, to encourage more people to enjoy the city’s summer evening delights.

More than 40 stores in the city – including Primark, Next, Boots, Debenhams as well as many inside the city’s Grosvenor Shopping Centre – are backing the campaign and will stay open for business from 5pm to 8pm every Thursday evening.

“’We’re delighted with the support ‘Head Out, Not Home’ has received from many of our city centre retailers, but the campaign isn’t just about late night shopping”, said Carl Critchlow, CH1ChesterBID Manager. “We’re planning some fantastic evenings of entertainment including live music, comedy, culture, cinema, theatre and sport in the city.”

The campaign is aimed at encouraging more city residents, workers and visitors to stay longer, enjoy more and spend more time around Chester’s city centre shops, bars, restaurants and attractions. Parking is also free after 3pm in the city.

“We’re proud to be a city that’s rich in tradition, but we also need to react and respond to shifting demands of modern consumers and to the competitive challenges we face as a destination of choice. So, we hope people – whether living, working or visiting here – head out to Chester, not home, every Thursday in July and August, and enjoy everything our wonderful city has to offer.” Carl added.

Everything locals and visitors need to know about Chester Fiesta and Head Out, Not Home can be found on this website.

As well as receiving all the latest news and offers from the city centre, anyone who signs up to the www.ExperienceChester.co.uk newsletter before the end of June will automatically be entered into a prize draw for afternoon tea for two at the Chester Grosvenor.